Applications for the 5th annual Oramenta Newsome Community Development Fellowship are now open! The fellowship is a 10-week paid internship opportunity for graduate students, mid-career professionals and local DC residents that have expressed and exhibited a keen interest in community development and want to support affordable housing, economic development, sustainability, and safety projects in the D.C. region. Fellows will be placed at local nonprofit organizations that share LISC's vision for the Washington D.C. region to be an inclusive, community-driven, and equitable region for everyone.
This year's fellowship will have a place-based focus with fellows supporting local nonprofits in D.C.'s Ward 8 and surrounding neighborhoods. This aligns with LISC DC's premier initiative, Elevating Equity, which is devoted to fostering equitable and inclusive development in the neighborhoods (Historic Anacostia, Fairlawn, Hillsdale, Navy Yard, Capitol Hill) surrounding the future site of the 11th Street Bridge Park.
Oramenta Newsome served as Executive Director of LISC DC for nearly 25 years. Throughout her life, Oramenta balanced a deeply rooted neighborhood orientation with a national perspective. She dedicated decades to making Washington, DC a global city that benefited neighborhood residents. Oramenta believed that all people want the same quality of life in their neighborhood – a home, a job, and access to resources and amenities.
By continuing to invest in projects and initiatives that help to balance the income disparity and promote equity and inclusion, we are one step closer towards realizing her vision for Washington, DC - inclusive, community-driven, and equitable. With this fellowship, we are creating a legacy and honoring her commitment to community development.
Applications are due on Friday, March 15th and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more about the fellowship and past cohorts here and apply via greenhouse here.